When you think of Texas you probably think of cowboys, barbecue, girls with big hair, and everyone saying “y’all”.
While you will find all of these things, it is important to note that there is so much more to Texas. Really, there are so many cool facts about Texas that you are sure to discover something new that you can thank our great state for!
I mean, that’s why Texas cities consistently make the list of top cities in the U.S. to visit! There are so many hidden gems in the U.S.A., and Texas is no exception.
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51 Awesome Facts About Texas
1. Texans Are Friendly
You can’t have a list of fun facts about Texas and not include the friendliness of the people! It doesn’t matter if you are in the small towns of Texas, or the big cities, you will find that the majority of people in Texas are extremely friendly.
2. Friendship is the State Motto
As I said, we are friendly people, and the word Texas means friend, so it is only fitting that the Lone Star State motto is friendship.
3. Dr. Pepper was Invented in Texas
Oh, my soda obsession, Dr. Pepper! Dr. Pepper is one of the oldest (and in my opinion, the most delicious) sodas ever invented!
Dr. Pepper was invented in Texas in 1885 from a pharmacist at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, Dr. Pepper is now a Texas icon.
4. Six Flags Have Ruled Over Texas
It’s true, six different flags have actually ruled over Texas. These six countries include Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and of course, the United States of America.
5. Six Flags Theme Park Originated in Texas
The Six Flags Theme Park brand actually originated here in the Lone Star State and drew its name from the history of the six flags that ruled over the state of Texas.
The first Six Flags theme park was created right here in a suburb of my hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth, in Arlington, Texas. So, of course, we had to include Six Flags on our list of things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth.
6. The Frozen Margarita Machine Was Invented Here
Drawing inspiration from the Slurpee machine used at 7-11 stores, Mariano Martinez came up with the idea of creating the world’s first frozen margarita machine.
Today, you can see his original machine on display at The Smithsonian Museum of American History!
7. Texas has its own Power Grid!
It’s true. There are three power grids in the United States, one for the western half of the country, one for the eastern half of the country, and one for the state of Texas!
8. Texas is Home to the Deadliest Natural Disaster in History
One of the saddest facts about Texas is the fact that we are home to one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. In the year 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane took the lives of between 6,000 and 12,000 people.
9. The Largest Known Bat Colony in North America is Here
Just outside of San Antonio, Texas, you will find Bracken Cave, home to the largest known bat colony in North America.
It is estimated that over 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats call this cave home from March to October.
Not only that, but the Texas state capital of Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in the United States also.
10. The Fastest Road in the United States is in Austin
In between the Texas state capital of Austin and San Antonio, you will find a country road, Highway 130, which is the fastest road in the United States! This road boasts a speed limit of 85 miles per hour! Now, that’s a fast speed limit.
11. Texas State Capital Building is the Largest State Capital Building in the U.S.
I mean, it isn’t a contest or anything, but the Texas State Capital building is the largest state capital building in the United States.
Visitors to the Texas State Capital have their choice of some of the best places to stay in Austin and then can choose to take a free 30-minute tour to learn more about the capital of Texas.
12. Texas is the 2nd Most Populous State
Second, to only California, Texas is the 2nd most populous state in the United States. With a population of over 29 million people.
13. Texas is Larger Than Any European Country
It’s true, Texas is larger than so many places. If you place Texas over Europe on a properly scaled map, you can easily see that you could actually fit several European countries into Texas.
14. Texas Was Once An Independent Nation
From the years 1836-1845, Texas was an independent nation.
Falling under the flag of the Republic of Texas. This period occurred during the time of Manifest Destiny when American settlers came to this region and won their independence from Mexico during the Texas Revolution.
15. The Texas Rangers are the Oldest State-Wide Law Enforcement Agency
The Texas Rangers were originally founded in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin. This original group of 10 men was given the sole responsibility to protect the settlers that had come to make the Lone Star State their home.
16. Texas is Home to the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk
This Honky-Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, can be found in our hometown, Fort Worth, and is listed as one of our free things to do in Fort Worth.
17. We Love to Say Y’all
We love to say y’all! Honestly, I don’t even think about it. Y’all is just part of my vocabulary when I’m referring to two or more people. LOL!
18. We Also Love to Drop the Ending Off of our Words
This is something that you will notice throughout Texas. We love to drop the last letter from our words.
Some common examples include fixin’, comin’, dancin’, and singin’.
19. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World
The city of Austin holds the title of live music capital of the world due to the fact that it has the most live music venues per capita in the nation, boasting more than 250 concert venues.
20. The Hamburger Was Invented in the Lone Star State
So I haven’t been able to 100% validate this fact about Texas, but supposedly the hamburger that we all know and love was invented in Athens, Texas.
21. Whole Food Market and 7-11 Originated in Texas
That’s right, you can thank the great state of Texas for Whole Foods Market and 7-11. You can find these popular stores all over the United States, but both found their start right here in Texas. 7-11 began in Dallas in 1927, while Whole Foods began in Austin in 1980.
22. The Largest Fair in the United States
The Texas State Fair is not only the largest state fair in the United States. It is also the longest-running since it was established in 1886.
Running for 24 days from the end of September thru October every year, the fair will have you eating your weight in fried food before taking a ride on one of the many amusement rides.
23. We Have Our Own Version of Mexican Food
Texans have their own version of Mexican food, Tex-Mex, and it is delicious! What exactly is Tex-Mex?
Tex-Mex is a fusion of Mexican, Tejano, and American food styles.
24. We Ensure we have Bluebonnets
To ensure that the fields of bluebonnets make an appearance, the Texas Department of Transportation actually employs a team of gardeners to help spread over 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds.
There are also some great lavender fields in Texas!
25. Two Presidents of the United States Were Born in Texas
Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight Eisenhower were born here in Texas. Matter of fact, you can tour the LBJ Ranch while you are visiting Fredericksburg, TX, and see the ‘Texas White House’.
26. Texas is Home to 3 of the United States’ Largest Cities
Texas is home to 3 of the United States’ largest cities. Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all made the top 10 of the list of the largest cities in the U.S.
27. There is a Dialect of German Only Spoken in Texas
A large portion of the Texas Hill Country was settled by German immigrants in the early 1900s. During this time of settlement, these immigrants developed a unique dialect of the German language that you still hear spoken today.
28. Don’t Mess With Texas Is For Real
The ‘Don’t Mess with Texas’ slogan originated as an anti-litter campaign. It has since been used on so many different things.
Some people say that you really don’t mess with Texas’ because of the history of independence here.
29. We Take Our BBQ Seriously
Although BBQ was not invented in the Lone Star State, we take it seriously and pride ourselves on having the best in the U.S. Now while this is a highly controversial statement, there are many Texans that would go toe to toe to prove it.
30. Texas is Double the Size of Germany
It’s true, you can fit two countries the size of Germany in the Lone Star State!
Final Thoughts on Facts About Texas
Really, we could go on and on with facts about Texas. The Lone Star State is definitely a unique state that is full of great people, beautiful countryside, and tons of things to do.
Check Out Some of Our Other Texas Posts:
15 Fun Things to do in Canyon Lake, TX
Fun Things to do in the Highland Lakes of Texas
Romantic Weekend in Downtown McKinney
Covered Wagon Camping: Unique Places to Stay in Texas
Visiting the Fredericksburg, TX Wineries (Everything You Need to Know)
30 Fun Things to do in Fredericksburg TX
40 Awesome Free Things to do in Austin
Free Things to do in San Antonio
101 Ideas for Date Night in Dallas
30 Incredible Day Trips from Dallas
55 Ideas for Date Night in Fort Worth
20 Towns to Celebrate Christmas in Texas
20 Fabulous Small Towns in Texas You Must Visit
Visiting the San Antonio River Walk at Christmas
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight:
We love using CheapOAir, Kayak, and Kiwi to search for the best prices on flights. We love using these search engines because they search the web for airlines all over the world to ensure you get the best deal! In addition to flights, you can also find great hotel prices on Kayak and Kiwi.
Book Your Vacation Package:
If you want to book an entire vacation package, then we suggest using Expedia. We love how easy Expedia is to use and we always find good deals on entire vacation packages on their site.
Another great site for vacation packages is BookVIP. BookVIP offers super cheap vacation packages to incredible destinations. You are sure to save money using their site!
For full guided vacations including hotels, some meals, transportation, and guides, then we book with Trafalgar. Trafalgar is a trusted tour company that will meet all of your needs while ensuring that you have a great experience.
Trip.com allows you to book flights, hotels, train tickets, rental cars, airport transfers, tours, and more all on one site. Owned by the parent company that also owns Skyscanner, this is a trusted resource for travel booking and a great “one-stop-shop.”
Book Your Accommodations:
We always begin our search by checking out the honest review on hotels at TripAdvisor. This allows us to narrow our search for specific properties once we are ready to book. Of course, you can also book directly on the TripAdvisor site as well!
There are several accommodation sites that we like to use. One of our favorites is Booking.com because it gives you a wide variety of hotels and guesthouses at a good price.
Another “go-to” hotel booking site for us is Hotels.com. We love their loyalty program that allows you to earn free nights, and their “secret prices” for members are fabulous deals!
HotelsCombined is another cool site. They allow you to compare all of the top travel sites with one search to ensure you are finding the best deal out there. Kayak works in this way as well.
If you are looking for a luxurious all-inclusive vacation, then consider checking out the Sandals/Beaches properties. Sandals properties are for couples only and Beaches are for families. We have visited Sandals in the past and absolutely love the attention to detail and the service they provide.
Tour Companies We Trust:
We love taking guided tours when visiting new places. Our go-to tour companies are Viator.com and Get Your Guide. Both of these companies have been in business for years and provide excellent customer service. You can trust booking tours from their sites for sure!
For a guided city tour, check out City Sightseeing and BigBus Tours. These bus tours are so much fun and easy to hop on and hop off at top attractions in cities around the world.
CityPass is a great way to save money when visiting large cities. CityPass allows you to get free admission to major attractions once you buy their pass. The savings add up quickly with this pass, often saving 50% with combined admissions.
Another great pass to save money in larger cities is the Sightseeing Pass. This pass allows you to save valuable time and money by combining admissions to major attractions. They also have a handy app that keeps everything you need at your fingertips.
Looking to Save Time and Money?
Check out our resource page for all of our favorite vendors. These companies help us to save time and money on our travels!
About The Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Shannon
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Love it! Fun, informative and some inspiration for my next Texas visit in October!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thanks, Shannon. I am so glad we were able to give you some tips!
Ophelie
Saturday 28th of March 2020
So cool to discover all of those facts! I didn't know you guys had an Eiffel Tower! I know a few people from Texas and I can tell that they are really friendly indeed!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
That is so great to hear, and yes we have an Eiffel Tower and a Stonehenge! LOL!
Agnes
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Well, thank you Texas for all of the frozen margs I've consumed in my life. Great post!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Right....we all have to thank Texas for that!
galatia savva
Saturday 28th of March 2020
such a fun informative post! Texas looks like a blast!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thanks so much!
Chelsea
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thank goodness for margarita machines BBQ and ice cream! The way to my heart is through food and music! Texas has it all!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Haha! I love it!!